Saturday, March 14, 2015

Women's Chess Championship Sochi 2015 - Graphical Pairing Tree

The FIDE Women's World Chess Championship 2015 in Sochi is about to started. 64 selected female chess warriors are put in brackets, to be eliminated one by one per round. Yes, another knock out chess tournament is on the roll once again. Although the format believed as less likened by chess elites, but the excitement of knock out is good for chess fans. Koneru Humpy is the top seed, followed by Ju Wenjun, Anna Muzychuk, and Viktorija Cmilyte. The fours of them placed on separate "group", expected to only encounter each other in semifinals. However, of course things are not as easy on paper. Alexandra Kosteniuk, Natalia Pogonina, Stefanova, Ushenina, and many other players are there to spice thing up. Funnily enough, Hou Yifan, the current woman world champion is not playing. She will immediate forfeited the title by system. Amazingly enough, Hou Yifan is already secured her "challenger" position. So, this year's women chess championship is trivial, the challenger is the one who first decided. Hou will enjoy the sun of March in Hawaii (but still under the worry of Cyclone Pam as happened in Vanuatu), while FIDE going to organized who is going to be their champion in Sochi.

India, Humpy Koneru 2581 vs Egypt, Ayah Moaataz 2022
There haven't any example of first round loss of first seed in all FIDE Knock out tournament, so Humpy Koneru will likely not to be the first on this. In fact, Koneru is kind of missing from top chess circle for quite sometimes now. She will want to get this opportunity to secured her current status as one of worthy challenger to Hou Yifan-reign.

China, Lei Tingjie 2444 vs Peru, Deysi Cori 2444
Both rating at 2444. Equality is the guarantee of hard battle in this pairing. Cori Deysi career is bumpy to the road of elite group. She largely neglected in the European chess scenes. On other hand, Lei Tingjie is the latest China product of chess player and WGM. She played in Moscow Open 2015 and proved to be well prepared as she bring home the first trophy in Women's Cup group. Hard work for Cori Deysi.Russia, Alisa Galliamova 2484 vs Argentina, Carolina Luján 2349
Russian veteran Alisa Galliamova is going to be challenge by Argentinian female champion Lujan Carolina. Though the rating different by more than hundred points in favor of Alisa, this should be interesting to see.Russia, Tatiana Kosintseva 2483 vs India, Mary Ann Gomes 2354
Although her position as Russian top girl is a little bit shaken by the arrival of new bloods, Tatiana Kosintseva still hundred point above Mary Ann Gomes. The Indian girl is well known on internet.

Ukraine, Mariya Muzychuk 2526 vs Canada, Yuanling Yuan 2267
Canadian Chinese and the country strongest female player, Yuan Yuanling is having tough opponent. Mariya Muzychuk almost three hundred points above, is going to send home Yuan very likely.Poland, Monika Socko 2463 vs Lithuania, Deimante Daulyte 2395
Lithuanian champion, Deimante Daulyte is the new 2015 Mediterranean Flower champion. She is going the get her present by facing big sister Monika Socko in first round.

Ukraine, Natalia Zhukova 2471 vs Ukraine, Inna Gaponenko 2384
The derby between two Ukrainians, both should be experience enough playing each other. Natalia on +1 in their three encounter, according to chessgames.comLithuania, Viktorija Cmilyte 2530 vs Bangladesh, Akter Liza Shamima 2130
Astronomical big gap in rating meaning Viktorija is almost sure to crush Liza Shamima of Bangladesh.

Russia, Alexandra Kosteniuk 2529 vs Australia, Irina Berezina 2182
One of former world champion, Alexandra Kosteniuk is on respective 5th seeded. Australian Irina Berezina is going to have tough days meeting the chess queen.

India, Harika Dronavalli 2492 vs United States, Tatev Abrahamyan 2322
Indian 2nd top player to be challenged by USA session player. Tatev Abrahamyan, many times US champion top finishers.

United States, Irina Krush 2477 vs France, Sophie Milliet 2377
US champion Irina Krush is the better seed against Sophie Milliet. Though the later is also session player. Sophie Milliet is one of few player who ever visit Indonesia for a chess games.

China, Ju Wenjun 2557 vs Egypt, Shrook Wafa 2058
The second seed vs the second last seed. Money is on Ju Wenjun, and most likely Ju Wenjun is the one set to be Hou Yifan serious challenger and successor.

Russia, Natalija Pogonina 2456 vs China, Guo Qi 2443
Natalia Pogonina, one of online chess celebrities. Guo Qi, noted that she is from Jiangsu Province in China, the same region as Hou Yifan and many other China grandmaster. According to Hou Yifan in the Gibraltar interview, Jiangsu Province is like China's Mecca in chess. Well, something to remember, Natalia. The second China vs Russia pairing of first round.

Ukraine, Anna Ushenina 2486 vs China, Zhang Xiaowen 2349
Anna Ushenina is last knock out champion. Zhang Xiaowen, a name lesser heard. She is 1989 born, age 25, considered "senior" sister for the China contingent.

Sweden, Pia Cramling 2495 vs Iran, Mitra Hejazipour 2302
Of many strong Iranian female player, it is Mitra Hejazipour that comes to Sochi. A name we less known. Pia Cramling is on her 51 year of life, making her the most senior player in the field (?)